Suleiman Faidhi was an intellectual, a lawyer, judge, politician, journalist and leading patriotic figure in a national struggle for libration and political independence of Iraq in the first half of the 20th century. He was amongst the first reformers to call for a social and cultural awakening in the Arab world, challenging the dominance of the Ottomans and later turning into a strong critic of British colonialism.  

Suleiman Faidhi served his country throughout his eventful career, maintaining a consistently patriotic stance and defending the rights of the people. He set up a number of charities and used his legal knowledge and political know-how to help pass laws defending fairness and pursuing justice for the Iraqi people.

Not driven by money or power, he was an admired figure that stood for political and educational reforms. A progressive liberal thinker, his actions were aimed purely at long term benefits for the fledgling Iraqi nation. He instigated projects to help orphans, opened schools and hospitals and taught law. As a journalist, he utilised his newspaper as an instrument for getting the voices of Iraqi politicians heard in a country under foreign dominance.

With high expectations for emerging Iraq, he was among a leading generation of Iraqi intellectuals that called for a social revival. They set up opposition parties, created numerous political and cultural organisations and helped build a foundation for an independent Iraq.

In an Arabic country where Ottoman Turkish language had an official status, he was instrumental in ensuring that Arabic was taught in schools and used in courts and government. He also advocated the rightful positions for Iraqi people in such institutions.

Suleiman Faidhi was a kind and honourable man. In Basra, where he spent most of his life, he was well known for his integrity and readiness to help the needy and disadvantaged regardless of religion, race or ethnicity.

Suleiman Faidhi was born in 1885 in Mosul, Iraq (then part of the Ottoman Empire). His father was a religious figure. He studied at the Military School in Baghdad, then moved to Basra in 1904. He obtained his degree in law from Istanbul in 1911, returning to Basra to open the first ever law office there.

In 1909, in Basra, he opened the first school “Tathkar al- Hurriyah” ( Memory of Freedom). Teaching in Arabic was introduced in this school for the first time. Turkish, English and French were taught too. This was possible only because the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hameed was overthrown and the new rulers promised more national rights to the people of the Empire. Christians, Jews and Muslims studied in the same class and those from poor families paid no fees.

He also started the first Arabic newspaper in Basra. The newspaper was called al-Iqaadh (The Awakening). It called for reforms, protesting against the abuse of local Ottoman authority and was dedicated to the encouragement of education. It became very popular and was distributed in India, Mohamarra, Kuwait, Bahrain, Aden, Jeddah and Singapore, in addition to Iraq. Faidhi’s play “al Riwaia al-Iqaadhia” (The Awakening) – published in 1919- was the first play written in Iraq for centuries and aimed to encourage the young to enter schools and to convince their fathers to allow them to do so.

Suleiman Faidhi founded the Basra branch of the Moderate Liberal Party in August 1911. Later he was a founder-member of the Liberty and Union Party, followed by the Reform Society in February 1914. He acted as the secretary general for these parties under the leadership of Sayyid Talib Pasha, the son of the Naqib of Basra and the “strongman” of southern Iraq. The objectives of these parties were to consolidate the efforts of the Arab nationalistic struggle against the new rulers in Istanbul. They enjoyed a semi-independent role in Basra and its suburbs until the city’s fall to the British in November 1914. As a pioneering force, these political movements set an example to the other Arab nationalists in different parts of the Arab lands. Furthermore it gained more power and influence when many Arab officers in the Ottoman army joined secretly.

Elected as a member of the Ottoman Parliament (Mab’oothan) in 1912 and 1914 representing Basra, Suleiman Faidhi played a major role in opposition, demanding reforms in the Arab Territories under Ottoman rule and achieving the demand for the use of Arabic as the official language in legal procedures in all Arab Territories, thus replacing Judges who did not speak it.

When the Ottoman State declared war against the Allies at the end of 1914, the British were preparing to land in Basra. The leadership of the Reform Society decided that Sayyid Talib Pasha and Suleiman Faidhi should leave for Najid. Both knew that they faced execution if the Turkish army arrived. They also knew that they would face an unknown fate if the British landed first, as Sayyid Talib and his party had refused to cooperate in assisting the British invasion of Basra. Talib and Faidhi aimed to call upon Ibn Saud, the ruler of Najid, to enter and occupy Basra with Talib’s help before the British were expected to land.

Ibn Saud, under British advice and through his friend Captain Shakespeare, declined their call and deliberately delayed his march towards Basra, until the British landing was accomplished. Then he mediated with the British for the safety of his friend Talib Pasha who, in agreement with Ibn Saud’s advice, requested Faidhi to go to Basra to negotiate with Sir Percy Cox (Chief Political Officer in Mesopotamia -1914) on Talib’s future. Suleiman Faidhi returned to Basra and met with Cox on December 19th and 20th 1914. The negotiation ended with Cox accepting to allow Sayyid Talib to go into self exile in India. Suleiman Faidhi was then detained by the British in 1916 for a short time. After his release, he was allowed to stay in Basra but his movements were confined to the boundaries of the city. Later in 1920, he was allowed to move to Baghdad, where he was appointed as the senior Judge at the Court of Appeal and a lecturer at the School of Law which was just opened mainly due to Faidhi’s efforts.

T E Lawrence visited Basra in April 1916 to meet two Arab nationalist leaders and to select one of them to start an Arab revolt against the Turks in southern Iraq. The objective was to relieve the pressure on General Townshend and his 17000 men who were under siege by Turkish troops in Kut. He met with Faidhi who did not respond to Lawrence’s demands. Two months later, on 10th June 1916, the Arab Revolt started in Hijaz.

In 1920, the British authoritiees, in an effort to prevent an armed revolt against its occupation, decided to set up a committee comprised of former members of the Ottoman Chamber of Deputies(al Maboothan) to agree the procedures by which elections would be held for a general assembly in Iraq. However, Suleiman Faidhi, who was then the leader of the secret “Al-Ahd Al Iraqi” party, was considered by the British, together with Naji Shawkat and Mozahim al Pachachi, to be the extremist elements in the committee. At the same period, Faidhi had a confrontation with Miss Gertrude Bell(British Oriental Secretary, acting as liaison with the forthcoming Arab government), when she accused him of siding with the armed revolt against the British. The revolt did take place and resulted in the British declaring Iraq an independent state.

Faidhi declined a request to join the first national cabinet in 1921 as he anticipated the conflicts he would have with the policies set according to the British plans for Iraq then. The lack of cooperation the British continued to receive from Faidhi made them wary and suspicious of him. He continued to believe that the new political structure and its institutions created by the British, were not free and democratic as was promised. This disillusionment led him to retreat from the political scene in Iraq in 1923, where the British domination and influence continued to be very effective. After a short period in Arabstan, where he was the advisor to its ruler, Sheikh Khaz'al, he returned to Basra and devoted himself to promoting cultural, charitable and national causes in addition to his work as a lawyer. He died in Baghdad on January 19th 1951.

His published works covered literature, law, politics and his memoirs. The memoirs, first published in 1952, proved to be a useful record for researchers in Iraq’s political, cultural and social events, mainly for the period of 1900 to the creation of the State in 1921.

In 1997, and in recognition of Suleiman Faidhi’s important role in the history leading to the formation of modern Iraq, the Faculty of History at the University of Basra decided to embark on a postgraduate research on the life of Suleiman Faidhi and his influence on the political, cultural and social developments in Iraq. The research thesis was later published in 2003.

The Memoirs of Suleiman Faidhi, include a special chapter on the arrival of Captain Lawrence to Basra and the details of the discussions they had in the two meetings he had with him.

Because of the very sensitive nature of the real purpose behind Lawrence’s arrival, the Basra trip was kept secret. Very Few correspondence and other records relating to it were found.

Suleiman Faidhi serialised his discussions with Captain Lawrence in “The Voice of Iraq” newspaper of “Al-Nahdha Party”, issues 55 to 62, between the 11^th and 18^th November 1929.

The exact text was later included in his memoirs when first published in 1952.

The Circumstances Surrounding Lawrence’s Arrival

In 1915, after the occupation of Basra and most part of southern Iraq, General Charles Townshend, commanded a division that advanced north towards Baghdad hoping to capture the town of Kut which was within the Turkish held territory. Kut was occupied in September 1915, but Townshend’s 17,000 men were later kept under siege by reinforced Turkish troops. By March 1916, because of the very serious shortage of food and no chance of relief, Townshend was considering surrender to the Turkish Commander Khalil Pasha.

To avoid surrender, Kitchener (1) believed that by creating disruption behind Turkish lines, the pressure on Townshend could be relieved, enabling him to retreat from Kut. Also to ease the retreat, a bribe to buy the cooperation of the Turkish Commanders was to be offered. Kitchener’s scheme also included General Aziz Ali Al Masri's (2) plan in starting an Arab revolt against the Turks in Mesopotamia. Sir Henry McMahon (3) was made responsible for the follow up of the scheme and Lawrence was chosen to go to Basra to seek the needed local Arab co-operation, he was also in charge of the secret £1,000,000 bribery project (4).

[see telegram dated 29.3.1916 from Sir W R Robertson (5) to Sir P H N Lake (6) and the instructions dated 26.3.1916 from Sir Wyndham Deedes (7) to Lawrence]

Lawrence arrived in Basra on April 5^th. He was to be joined later, once the cooperation of the man he was to meet in Basra was secured, by Aziz Al Masri, Nori Said and others who will use their influence in attracting Arab officers in the Turkish army to desert and join the Arab revolt.

On his arrival, Lawrence met with Sir Percy Cox (8) who was against the visit of Aziz Al Masri and others, but was keen that Lawrence would individually and immediately meet with the person Cox had selected. As for the bribery project, he was totally against it. In his telegram to Col. WH Beach (9), dated 7.4.1916, Cox wrote :

“ The project in view is pretty sure to become known sooner or later specially if it proves unsuccessful and I can not afford as a political officer of the government of India to be identified with it".

“I explained the above point of view to Captain Lawrence and informed him that I was ready to give to Captain J C More (10), the names of the individuals who might be ready to cooperate, and that Captain More could send for them to his private house where Lawrence could interview them. His idea when coming here was to utilise Seyyid Talib(11), which is out of the question as he is in Madras, or one of his former confederates of whom there are two or three in Basra. He has seen them at More’s house and without telling them precisely what they were wanted for, he had long talks with both of them, but both have failed to come to scratch on the ground that the risks were too great. There is no one else now here… whom it would be in the least possible to induce to take on the business. Had either… or… agreed to cooperate, it was Lawrence’s intention to take him up with him to (advance) H.Q. and not discuss the specific project until they reached there (11).”

General Sir P H N Lake (12) summarised the result of Lawrence’s mission to Basra in his telegraph to Sir W R Robertson (13) dated 16.4.1916 :

“Personal & Most Secret

Captain Lawrence reached my camp yesterday. The only channel which has appeared to give any prospect of being found practicable is the employment of Sayid Talib, late Nakib of Basra. Lawrence on his way here through Basra discreetly sounded Suleiman Feizi (14), who is a former confidential agent of Talib’s, and also sounded another of Talib’s old entourage, but found that both were too nervous to give any prospect of their acting by themselves. Neither they nor any of the prisoners of war or deserters who are now in our charge are suitable for employment as intermediaries, for they are not men of sufficient standing, and no Turkish general would dare entertain such an offer if it reached him through an unsubstantial individual. Finally, neither Khalil’s personality nor Ali Nejib’s opportunities at this late hour in my opinion give the slightest hope of the success of the overtures suggested and their failure would be calamitous to our prestige.

I propose nevertheless to avail myself of the services of Captain Lawrence for a short time for liaison purposes as affecting Egypt and Mesopotamia, and for work in connection with any opportunity that may arise for alienating from Turks and likely Arab elements in the Turkish army. In this latter connection, please instruct me definitely as to the political promises which Masri was to be authorised to make to the Arab soldiery… and inform me as to whether such promises are still permissible (15).”

On April 29^th, 1916, Townshend surrendered unconditionally. About 12,000 soldiers were held captive, no more than quarter ever returned.

Lawrence left Basra on May 11^th, 1916, back to Cairo

The instructions from W H Deeds to T E Lawrence 26.3.1916

(Unsigned copy in FO 882/15 fos-68-9)

"Without going into the details of the various telegrams which have passed between here and the War Office… they (W.O) are apparently quite convinced that the time has come to put the whole scheme into operation… I have within the last two or three days had interviews with Azziz, Nuri [as-Said], Faroki, Hassan Khaled and Dr.Shahbander, and, without referring to the particular case now under review, with Sheikh Reshid Riza. In my first interview with Azziz, I found him just a little bit difficult. I said that we were not prepared today to do more than give general assurances concerning Arab independence. Azziz then tried to go into details and wished to pin me down to some detailed convention. The following day I saw the Colonel [Calyton] who said “you had better put the matter plainly before them and say that we do not intend to tie ourselves down to any details as to our future relations with such Arab government as is brought into existence in Iraq until we have had an opportunity of seeing what the nature of that government is and how far it is in a position to carry out such assurances as it may give us.” In a word for your own information, please note that we refuse to discuss with this party today any other consideration but a simple promise to do all we can to help Arab independence. As a result of various meetings it was finally agreed that the party should go off at first available opportunity to join you at Basra. Such party will probably consist of the following : - Azziz ( the War Office were against Azziz or of his going to extremes, he is sound enough but wants a little checking). 2. will be Nouri. Nouri should help you considerably for as you know he is very moderate; but please note in this connection that he has not got the complete confidence of Azziz. I do not mean to say that Azziz mistrusts him, but… he thinks he is rather young and not quite big enough to be fully trusted with a matter of this sort. 3. will be Dr Shahbander whom the Colonel looks on as our sheet anchor. Hang onto him for all you are worth and work the others as far as possible through him. At least that is my opinion and I am sure you won’t mind my giving you this advice.”

Telegram : Sir W R Robertson (Chief, London) to Sir P H N Lake (GOC Force D)

(Telegram 14895, 29.3.1916 Cairo text FO 882/13 fo.279)

“Most secret and for yourself personally. Captain Lawrence is due at Basra about the 30^th March from Egypt to consult with you and if possible purchase one of the Turkish leaders of the Mesopotamia Army, such as Khalil or Negib [Ali Nejib, Khalil’s subordinate, was commander of the Turkish forces besieging Kut] so as to facilitate the relief of Townshend. You are authorised to expend for this purpose any sum not exceeding one million pounds. As no suitable native was immediately available, Lawrence is to proceed alone, but perhaps a suitable go-between can be found in Basra. Subsequently and independently the High Commissioner, Egypt, has suggested to the Foreign Office the utility of negotiating with Arab elements in the Turkish Army with a view to detaching them from the Turks and making them side with the Arab movement. Masri, Dr Shahbandeh and another Arab officer will probably be sent to Mesopotamia for this purpose, but may arrive too late to coordinate and make the fullest use of the two efforts. High Commissioner, Egypt, will have informed Masri, or will inform him through you, of the political promises he is authorised to make to the Arab elements in the Turkish Army.”

1. Field-Marshal H H Kitchener – British Minister of Defense
2. Distinguished figure in the Young Turks movement. Founder of Al Ahd, the secret Arab   Nationaist Party
3. British High Commissioner in Cairo – 1915
4. J Wilson Lawrence of Arabia, 1989,pp 259
5. Chief of Imperial General Staff – 1916
6. General Commander of British Forces in Iraq
7. Chief of Intelligence - Cairo
8. Chief Political Officer in Mesopotamia – 1914
9. Head of Intelligence IEF(D)
10. Head of the Military Intelligence Staff in Basra
11. PP Graves – The Life of Sir Percy Cox, 1941, pp200-1
12. Commander IEF (D0)
13. Chief of Imperial General Staff – 1916
14. Feizi (Faidhi)
15. IG 2508 Houghton b MS Eng 1252(372), later sent on 18.4.1916 to the British High Commissioner in Cairo under reference FO 141/736/2475-15548 Cipher MI

This web site was created in 2010 by Dr. Faidhi Mustafa, inspired by and in homage to the many achievements of his late grandfather, Suleiman Faidhi.

The charitable spirit to help the less fortunate and to spread education and awareness was carried on after Suleiman Faidhi’s death. His family donated his entire personal library which consisted of thousands of books containing rare and valuable publications to the library of the ministry of Awqaf(religious endowment) in Baghdad around ten years after his death. More recently, his son Mr. Basil Faidhi created and funded the Suleiman Faidhi Charitable Foundation. This foundation carried a number of large charitable projects in Iraq including the building of the two Suleiman Faidhi Centres for Medical Care in the poorest parts of Baghdad suburbs in 2001 and 2002. The foundation also financed the publication of “Nimrud, An Assyrian Imperial City Revealed” by Joan and David Oates. The book was first published in 2001 by the British School of Archaeology in Iraq.

Our work is non profitable and our intention is to lend a hand where possible to all those who have suffered under wars and difficult circumstances. Future projects in the name of Suleiman Faidhi are under consideration including the formation of an educational training institution.

This web site is a starting point and it is anticipated that it will expand with time.

We will be more than happy to listen to your suggestions.

Contact email address: info@suleimanfaidhi.com